Acer launches four new notebook models in Canada

Acer continues to make sure that every segment of the notebook market is covered with their latest releases.  For the power user, the AS8943G series, with an 18.4 inch edge-to-edge glass display,  include 4GB of RAM and use Core i3 or Core i5 processors depending on price point, and for graphics include ATI’s 1 GB Mobility Radeon HD5650 with Direct X 11 support so it should be up to snuff when it comes to gaming as well.  Another interesting feature of these is the dual mode trackpad, which can easily switch between a capacitive multitouch trackpad, to a media control centre, with glowing LED light embedded under the surface.

In the mid-range is the Aspire notebooks with 15.6- or 17.3-inch screen sizes, and MSRP prices ranging from $589.99 to $799.99.  These still feature Core i3 and Core i5 processors, but have slightly less demanding ATI 5470 or Intel based GPUs.

If you’re looking more in the netbook range, Acer has also rolled out the Aspire One AOD260 and Aspire One AO533.  The AOD260, priced at $249.99 (CAD), is an Atom based 10.1 incher aiming for the fashonista crowd with sleek lines, while the AO533 offers similar specs, but an 8 hour battery life and priced at $299.99 (CAD).  Both netbook models should be available at retailers by the end of the month.

This article is now featured on the Future Shop Tech Blog here.

PRESS RELEASES:

New Acer Aspire AS8943G Notebook Computer
Turns Any Room into the Ultimate Personal Theatre

Sleek new design personifies elegance and performance;
Unique dual mode touchpad/media console puts movies and music at your fingertips

SAN JOSE, Calif., August 19, 2010 – Acer Canada, part of the world’s second largest manufacturer of notebook PCs (1), today announced new models in its top-of-the line multimedia notebook series, the Aspire AS8943G. Boasting a sophisticated new design, the new notebooks include the AS8943G-3215 and AS8943G-5638; both are now available throughout Canada at leading retailers nationwide.

Packed with leading technologies and world-class entertainment and usability features, these new Aspire notebooks are sure to please the most demanding power user. Whether used for creating multimedia content, watching movies or dominating the latest PC games, the Acer® Aspire AS8943G Series delivers high-end styling and world-class performance for a wide range of productivity and entertainment applications.

On the exterior, the new aluminium cover not only looks sharp, but also protects the seamless, frameless display. Upon opening the lid, consumers will be wowed by sharp design lines that scream precision and performance. A host of well balanced contrasts, including glossy and matte finishes and silver and black accents, surround the new chiclet style keyboard (keys with straight edges vs. slanted sides) which extends to a dedicated numeric keypad.

“The Acer Aspire AS8943G Series of notebooks are first-class multimedia centers that deliver an unparalleled high-definition personal theatre experience,” said Chris Chiang, retail product marketing manager for Acer Canada. “Designed for the most discriminating and style-conscious consumer, they combine an elegant, simplistic design with top-of-the line technologies and usability features, taking PC-based entertainment to a whole new level.”

Stunning High Definition Visuals
The Acer Aspire 8943G Series of notebook PCs are multimedia powerhouses that deliver the ultimate high-definition personal-theatre experience. Featuring a brilliant CineCrystal™ 18.4-inch edge-to-edge glass LED back-lit display with full high-definition (1080p) resolution, consumers have a front row seat to all their entertainment and computing needs. Delivering stunningly rich lifelike audio and visuals, the Dolby® optimized Acer CineSurround sound system with five built-in speakers and a dedicated subwoofer deliver clear tones and deep bass beats, while a DVD super multi drive delivers razor sharp visuals on the display’s 16:9 aspect ratio.

For those connecting to PC speakers, headphones or a home audio system, Dolby Home Theatre® Audio immerses you in the action, making TV shows, movies, sports, music, and video games sound amazing. An HDMI™ port allows for quick and easy hook up to an even bigger high-definition TV for movie nights.

Only the Best for Power Users and Gamers
Designed for hardcore power users, the $999 Aspire AS8943G-3215 is powered by the Intel® Core™ i5-430M Dual Core Processor with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, delivering advanced performance and incredible system response. Already loaded with 4GB of memory, the notebook can support up to 8GB for extraordinary speed. The $939 AS8943G-5638 includes the Intel® Core™ i3-350M Dual Core Processor.

Gamers looking to lose themselves in an ultimate fantasy world will thrill to the intense video computing power delivered by the ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5650 Graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory. Full DirectX® 11 support enables incredible gaming and stunning
3D visual effects. Photographers, videographers and graphic designers will see their creative ideas spring to life with increased visual detail and stunning realism.

Digital packrats with massive amounts of photos, videos, music, documents and emails will find the 640GB(2) SATA hard drive on the AS8943G-3215 and the 500GB(2) SATA hard drive on the AS8943G-5638 provide plenty of room for their digital data. With dual hard drive support, consumers can add another drive for backups or to increase their overall storage capacity. And to make data transfer painless, an eSATA port speeds up large file transfers, while a FireWire port moves videos quickly from the latest digital camcorders.

User Friendly Features for Today’s Digital Lifestyle
In addition, a new dual-mode touchpad with integrated, capacitive touch media controller icons allows you to switch between multi-gesture mode to media console mode. At the flick of a finger, consumers can go straight to their favorite movies or music. Integrated into the touchpad, the backlit media console icons glow underneath the pad, providing a clean simplistic design. In addition, a convenient scrolling volume wheel directly under the touchpad makes it easy to control volume levels.

Connecting to the Internet on the road or at home is fast and easy. The Aspire AS8943G Series includes 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ wireless for the road and ultra-quick Gigabit Ethernet for those who want an even faster connection at home.

For those who like to stay in touch face-to-face, a 1.3 megapixel HD webcam and digital microphone provides clear high-quality online chat sessions. It also takes still pictures and videos that can easily be shared with friends.

Providing top-notch security for consumers’ digital data, the notebooks also include a bio-protection fingerprint reader, preventing unauthorized access to or use of the PC.

# # #

Acer Canada Enhances Value-Based Mobile Computing Category
with New Aspire Line of Attractive, Feature Rich Notebooks

With prices starting at $589.99, new affordable Aspire notebooks deliver practical features for staying productive and connected

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Canada, August 23, 2010 – Acer Canada today expanded its Aspire® notebook line with new value-based models that deliver a nice balance of performance, features, attractive design and affordability for consumers on a budget.

The new Aspire® notebooks offer mobile users the power of next-generation Intel® processors, a choice of robust graphics solutions, ample memory, large hard drives and a choice of large 15.6- or 17.3-inch screen sizes, with prices starting at $589.99.

“Acer’s newly redesigned line of value-based Aspire notebooks gives consumers with basic computing needs all the performance, features and mobility they need at an outstanding value,” said Chris Chiang, product marketing manager, Acer Canada. “This new notebook line is ideal for anyone who needs a full-function notebook PC to keep them connected and productive while working, studying or enjoying digital media and casual games.”

Power Packed for Efficient Multitasking
The new Aspire notebooks offer new Intel® Core i5 and i3 processors that deliver a fast and responsive computing experience by speeding up multitasking performance. Additionally, the 4GB of DDR3 memory is significantly faster than DDR2 memory, ensuring faster, more efficient performance on applications.

The latest communications technologies keep users in touch at all times. Internet access is provided through the 802.11b/g/n WiFi CERTIFIED® wireless or fast Gigabit Ethernet LAN connectivity, making it easy to browse websites, check email, enjoy online entertainment, and stay in touch with social media networks.

An integrated Acer Crystal Eye™ 1.3MP (1280 x 1024 resolution) webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes. Consumers can also enjoy music and video sound with the high-definition audio support and two built-in stereo speakers.

High-Definition Support for Striking Visuals
The high-definition, LED-backlit Acer CineCrystal™ widescreen display delivers crystal-clear images and color with a true 16:9 aspect ratio that increases the viewing area. Users can choose from several models with either 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch screens.

Next-generation graphics solutions offer users excellent visual quality for the latest games, movies, photos or videos. The new Aspire notebooks come with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 or Intel® HD graphics. Taking the visual experience one step further, the Aspire notebooks also come with an HDMI port for connecting to a HDTV, providing crisp, high-quality visuals and audio through a single cable.

Cool Styling and Features Boost Mobile Computing Experience
The Aspire notebooks are available in black and silver and feature rounded edges and smooth lines highlighted by a textured mesh cover that brings an attractive appearance while preventing fingerprints and scratches.

To protect media files, photos and video while on the go, the Acer Aspire notebooks include MyBackup functionality that gives customers a way to quickly and easily back-up all important files. Easily accessible with the integrated software, customers can conveniently back up files to another location such as a USB drive, external hard disk drive, or another hard drive partition. The notebook line is incredibly easy to use with a multi-gesture touchpad, touchpad lock, and dedicated numeric keypad.

The new notebooks come with 320GB to 640GB large-capacity SATA hard drives with generous storage for work and multimedia files. Several models also include a Blu-ray Disc™ drive for the ultimate entertainment experience while watching high-definition movies.

Price and Availability
The new Aspire notebooks are available this month at leading Canadian retailers with prices ranging from an MSRP of $589.99 to $799.99 (CAD).

# # #

Acer Turns Heads with Stylish New Additions to Aspire One Netbook Line
for Canadian Consumers

Aspire One AOD260 netbook offers sophisticated styling for fashion-forward mobile users; Aspire One AO533 netbook combines performance and 8 hours battery life

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Canada, August 23, 2010 – Acer Canada today expanded its industry-leading line of Aspire One netbooks with the Acer Aspire One AOD260 and Aspire One AO533. These new netbook lines deliver sleek new designs and enhanced performance for highly mobile consumers.

Keeping users productive and connected on the go, both netbooks feature Intel® Atom™ processors, 10.1-inch WSVGA LED-backlit displays, fast Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in webcams and large keyboards with Multi-Gesture touchpads. While they share some key mobility features, the two lines were designed to meet different customer needs. The Aspire One AOD260 blends performance with a sophisticated design that makes a fashion statement, while the Aspire One AO533 delivers long battery life and ample features at an outstanding value.

“The netbook market has matured quickly and Acer is maintaining its leadership in this category by delivering multiple product lines that target unique customer requirements,” said Chris Chiang, product marketing manager, Acer Canada. “Whether the customer’s primary concern is style, performance, battery life or value, Acer offers the perfect netbook solution.”

Unique Style and Advanced Performance for the Mobile Fashionista
For the mobile user that cares about style as much as performance, the Aspire One AOD260 netbook was designed as a fashion accessory. The smooth surface, chromo-plated logos and flush battery create an elegant design from all angles. Combine the great looks with the energy-efficient Intel® Atom™ N455, N450 or N475 processor, and the Aspire One AOD260 offers beauty and performance. Additionally, it comes with 1GB of DDR3 memory and a 160GB or 250GB internal hard drive to store plenty of digital albums, music and documents.

Keeping in touch with friends, family and colleagues is simple and easy with the Aspire One AOD260. Access email and browse the web from airports, coffee shops or the home office via an integrated Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® network connection and fast Ethernet LAN. The 10.1-inch CrystalBrite™ LED display, webcam and digital microphone deliver smooth video and voice quality for real-time video chat and conferencing.

Less than 1-inch thin and ranging from 2.43 to 2.76 pounds (depending on battery size), the Aspire One AOD260 is easy to take anywhere, whether for work or play. Additionally, it comes in two colors to fit anyone’s style and personality – black and blue.

Mobile Performance and Functionality for All Day Computing
The Aspire One AO533 netbook was designed for all-around performance and all-day mobility. Featuring the high-performance yet energy-conscious Intel® Atom™ N455 processor, efficient 10.1-inch LED-backlit display and a 6-cell Li-ion battery, the Aspire One AO533 offers 8 hours of battery life on a single charge.(1) Additionally, 1GB of advanced DDR3 memory and a large 160GB or 250GB hard drive make the Aspire One AO533 ready for performance-minded customers.

Users can stay connected to social networks and email while on the go with the 802.11b/g/n wireless network or fast Ethernet LAN connectivity. The integrated webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and video conferences. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

This 2.76-pound netbook not only performs well, but looks great too with a newly enhanced industrial design. A glossy cover in red or black is complimented by a chrome rim and striking logos. In addition, the battery fits flush in the chassis, making the Aspire One AO533 an ideal portable companion for users needing all day computing power.

Additional Features Enhance Ease-of-Use
For precise control and intuitive navigation, the netbooks utilize a Multi-Gesture Touchpad with anti-slip microbead texture, allowing users to pinch, flick and swirl their fingers across the touchpad. It also allows users to scroll, zoom in and out, and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. Also, a larger keyboard – 93 percent standard size – is convenient for typing.

Price and Availability
Both netbook lines will be available later this month at leading Canadian retailers. The Acer® Aspire One AOD260 will start at a MSRP of $249.99 (CAD), while the Acer® Aspire One AO533 will start at a MSRP of $299.99 (CAD).